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Clarksville soon may have its first law against panhandling, which also would prohibit any unapproved roadside sales.

Roadside vendors selling goods or asking for donations on the side of the road could soon be paying a $50 fine if found and acted upon by law enforcement. If passed Sept. 1, the new city ordinance that is up for a vote on Sept. 1 will make it illegal to perform any hand-to-hand transactions on the side of the road.

The ordinance has been modeled from the city of Brentwood to lower potential traffic hazards in the city of Clarksville.

The ordinance will also act as an amendment to the official code of the city.

The ordinance states, "the City Council finds that additional regulations are necessary in order to prevent dangers to persons and property, and to prevent delays and interference with vehicular traffic flow; and use of the public right-of-way for solicitation of donations."

The city council monthly executive session was dominated by discussion on the issue, with special comments from Bob Murphy, president of RPM Transportation Consultants, City Attorney Lance Baker and Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley.

Murphy said hand-to-hand transactions on the side of the road are safety issues.

"It is reasonable to establish an ordinance that would provide some control over these type of operations," he said.

Baker told the council that a violation of the ordinance will incur a $50 fine and any court costs that are involved.

Baker said, "The police will have to write people tickets."

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The monthly executive session on Thursday.(Photo: Pranaav Jadhav/ The Leaf-Chronicle)

Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin suggested that in addition to the vendors, buyers should also be fined for causing traffic disruptions.

"In my opinion, people are not going to be at a location for that purpose if there aren't people coming to exchange funds for goods," McLaughlin said.

Baker clarified that he is still studying this possibility from a constitutionality standpoint.

"The ordinance is strictly aimed at the peddler," Baker said, "I am not aware of any municipalities that have gone that far."

Baker said he doesn't think a juvenile will be charged; if cited, the juvenile will be charged in a juvenile court not the city court. Baker said juveniles will be in violation if they perform the transactions.

Ward 8 councilman David Allen ridiculed the idea of issuing a ticket to a homeless person.

"What if someone doesn't have an ID on him?" he asked.

Ansley said there has been only one crash involving a peddler. There have been 82 injury crashes in the past five years involving pedestrians, including 10 fatalities, according to the police chief.

The ordinance will be voted upon and open for public comments in the regular session of the city council on Sept. 1 at 7 p.m.

Reach government reporter Pranaav Jadhav at pjadhav@theleafchronicle.com or on Facebook or Twitter.